August 23, 2012 12:19 pm

First cuts take place on Monday, when NFL teams have to get down from 90 to 75 players.

So Friday’s contest against Kansas City will be important one for those players on the fringes of earning a roster spot for the Seattle Seahawks.

With that in mind, we take a look at some players that have helped themselves in the first two games and training camp, and some guys who still have to work to do in order to prove they deserve a starting job or a spot on the roster.

Helping themselves

Phillip Adams: He’s been the most consistent performer of all the reserve cornerbacks, is a good special teams player and is also working inside as a nickel cornerback with the second unit. Adams also has flashed playmaking ability at times, with a handful of interceptions in practice.

Deon Butler: The fourth-year pro looks like he’s back to his old self after a leg injury in 2010, and has played with good feel as the team’s starting slot receiver with Doug Baldwin out. The Penn State product also proved he can make a tackle is he has to play special teams.

Braylon Edwards: Every day during practice Edwards makes at least one eye-opening play. Right now, Edwards is the most consistent of the big receivers who can make explosive plays down the field. I find it hard to believe he will not be on Seattle’s roster when the season begins.

Jeron Johnson: He’s like a cockroach – you just can’t get rid of this guy. Seattle considered drafting the BSU product in the fifth round last year, but instead selected Appalachian State product Mark LeGree, and brought in Johnson as an undrafted rookie free agent. But LeGree is with his third team, and Johnson earned a roster spot. This year, the Seahawks drafted Winston Guy in the sixth round as a potential backup to Kam Chancellor, but Johnson’s the guy making plays in practice and in games. Johnson leads the team in tackles in exhibition play, and has an interception and a forced fumble. He’s a football player.

Tyrell Sutton: The Northwestern product has rushed five times for 51 yards, including a 46-yard run against Denver. And he also has a 34-yard reception for a score against the Broncos on a screen pass. While he might have a tough time making the roster with Robert Turbin and Leon Washington ahead of him, Sutton has put together some good film, which should help him catch on with another team.

J.R. Sweezy: Carroll gushed over Sweezy’s remarkable development since May on Thursday. He’s a great athlete and a mauler in the run game, but he still have to develop a better feel for pass protection. Seattle’s coaching staff might have a tough decision to make if John Moffitt is not ready to go for the season opener.

Russell Wilson: He’s showed good command of the offense and has a presence about him on the field. He’s a leader, and guys want to make plays for him. But for me, the most important distinction between Wilson and Matt Flynn is the Wisconsin product’s ability to make plays – either with his feet or his arm. It could be the difference to scoring touchdowns or settling for field goals. And in razor-thin margin of the NFL, that’s the difference between winning and losing.

Still work to do

Kris Durham: He’s played better the past week, making a handful of good grabs during practice. And he’s also done a nice job of executing the little things, including solid stalk blocking on the perimeter to spring runners for big gain. But we have yet to see that explosive playmaking ability show up in a game.

Matt Flynn: While Wilson’s accelerated development and playmaking ability have been talked about, what has went unsaid is Flynn’s inability to grab control of the starter role – and the team – during offseason work and training camp. Wilson getting his first start also is a reflection of Flynn not being able to win the job outright up until this point, something I expected him to do. It will be important for Flynn to not get frustrated with the situation and play well in whatever snaps he get against the Chiefs. I still think he has a good shot to be the starter for the season opener against Arizona, but he’s left the door cracked open for Wilson.

Winston Guy: He has the prototypical size and speed that the team is looking for at strong safety, but Guy has not been consistent in his play. At least one of the punt blocks against Denver can be attributed to Guy’s poor blocking on special teams.

Ricardo Lockette: A leg injury prevented Lockette from being part of the conversation in the battle for the starting job at split end. And now he appears to be just competing for a roster spot. His hands are becoming more consistent – Lockette made a great grab on a fade route in the back of the end zone during practice on Wednesday. However, he’ll need to contribute on special teams if he’s to earn a spot on the 53-man roster.

Deuce Lutui: The personal foul penalty against Denver did not help his cause. Add to that the development of Sweezy, and Lutui is in a dogfight for a roster spot. But Lutui has something working in favor – experience. Also, he’s one of the better run blockers on a team that will lean on the run game this season.

Byron Maxwell: The Clemson product has had his share of health issues and did not look good against Tennessee. However, Maxwell had a good week of practice, and might be finding his game at the right time. The coaching staff still loves his athleticism, versatility and the physical way he plays.

Terrell Owens: He has a lot to overcome. And the fact that he finished without a catch and a bad drop against Denver is just scratching the surface. He still appears to be the same T.O. who complains when things are not going his way. And Pete Carroll will not put up with that from a fifth or six receiver – see T.J. Houshmandazadeh.

Malcolm Smith: The 2011, seventh round draft pick from is battling through injuries once again, and fellow USC product Mike Morgan has passed him on the depth chart. But like Maxwell, the speed and athleticism still is intriguing.

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About

Gregg Bell joined The News Tribune in July 2014. Bell had been the director of writing for the University of Washington's athletic department for four years. He was the senior national sports writer in Seattle for The Associated Press from 2005-10, covering the Seahawks in their first Super Bowl season and beyond. He's also been The Sacramento Bee's beat writer on the Oakland Athletics and Raiders. The native of Steubenville, Ohio, is a 1993 graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, N.Y., and a 2000 graduate of the University of California, Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism.

Feeds

Durham is in trouble. I don’t know that he’ll be dropped during first cuts, but I don’t see him making the roster. And Smith’s injuries make him little more than a roster-placeholder, at this point, which is a shame, because talent-wise, he’s a prototypical Will in Carroll’s scheme.

I havn’t been on today to read the chatter, but i’m really curious about the whole flynn not throwing in practice thing. Does anyone have insight about this, besides “giving his arm a break”. If he would have been named the starter for the season, would he be getting a break for his arm? Just seems a little strange to me.

Adams is really showing some good versatility and fully expect him to make the final roster. Same goes for the cockroach. The INT was a gift, but the FF was all him.

It’s good to see Butler improving to the point where he can make the roster. Some of that might be other guys failing to take their opportunities like Durham and Lockette, but the ST play can’t hurt him.

I think Lutui is in real trouble. With Moffitt, Sweezy, Lem, McQ and Omiyale, and possibly Carp later in the season, he keeps dropping compared to the upside and/or versatility of those guys.

I have been following you guys for a while but never commented here before so I thought I would sign up and throw my two cents in on the QB situation. I have seen many of you write that you think that Pete Carroll has really messed up the QB situation with the Seahawks and shown from the beginning that he has no idea what he is doing when it comes to QBs. Here is what I have to say about that: “Pete Carroll is smarter than you are!”

If you had watched closely you would see that he has had a plan from the very beginning. He has made some adjustments along the way but he has had a plan. First Pete hooked up with Matt Hasselbeck because he knew he was going to need his leadership to get this team to buy into what he what he was selling. And it worked, they had a surprisingly successful first season. Then he brought in Charlie Whitehurst. Most of us thought he was brought in to compete with Hasselbeck for the starting job but it was pretty obvious early that was not the case. I believe what he was really doing was auditioning for the second year job. Then when it became clear that the lock out was going to last through that entire next off season, combined with putting in a new offense and then also bringing in an a very young offensive line, it became obvious that Hasselbeck was not going to be a good fit . And Charlie had shown them by that time that he was not going to be the answer either.

Many questioned them bringing in Tarvaris Jackson and naming him the starter without any competition and most of them still can’t figure it out. For those of you who still don’t understand it, here’s what I think. I believe he was brought in as a sacrificial lamb to deal with the no off season work outs and the brand new offensive line. But he did have an understanding of the new offense and he did make it possible for them to sign Sydney Rice, which still has a chance to turn out well, we’ll see. But did you see the incredible shots Jackson took in the preseason and some of the early season games last year? I don’t think I have ever seen a quarterback get hit that hard and that often! For those of you who thought they should have kept Matt Hasselbeck, do you think he would still be able to walk or even be alive if he got hit like that?

But Jackson did survive it and actually did better than most of us expected him to but now it’s time for the Seahawks to begin the move to the next level of competing for championships and to do that they are going to need a real quarterback. So for the first time since Pete’s been here, we see actual quarterback competition. I’m sure that by now he has learned that Matt Flynn can be a very competent “game manager” for a team with a great defense a strong running game.

But in Russell Wilson what he sees is the tempting potential of something more. He sees the possibility of a dynamic young quarterback that can take his team from being competitive and possibly making the play-offs to being a team that can actually compete for championships. Now he wants to know if that is something that can come into play this season or if he needs to wait a year or two down the road.

If it doesn’t work right now and he’s not quite ready, Pete can go back to his game manager and probably still have a successful 8 or 9 win season. But if looks like there is a possibility that Wilson is ready to go to start the season, Pete Carroll would be crazy to not go for it. I for one am very excited to watch how this plays out. It is going to be fun.

And to all you critics out there, Pete Carroll doesn’t care what you think. I heard him say so.

lol…just kiddding there. It was actually nice talking about something different, like complaining about the pass rush. Actually Flynn’s arm still remains a mystery. Was listening to 710 and they were wondering the same thing. No explanations given.

If the offense tries to target TO a lot in the 1st half vs the Chiefs ~ To see if he still has it (like they did in Denver) It’s not too outlandish to think that Wilson’s success vs the Chiefs could hinge on that.. Right?

I know Rice, Miller & KW will all be there but if Flynn’s (perceived) lack of success was graded that way ~ Why wouldn’t RW’s?

So are all of the TO haters ready to accept that if RW succeeds friday night, TO might also??

Ya I just find it odd. Hopefully he’s not complaining and showing frustration to the team. Sometimes i wish i were a fly on the wall inside the vmac so i can actually hear what is going on. oh well, maybe in the afterlife i will get to be a fly!

Hated TO’s body language during the Broncos game. You can change charcter, you can’t change personality, it’s set early in life. He’s a long shot with his age and history of being a cancer in the locker room…

Haven’t heard much about Doug Baldwin, so I googled his name and read. Looks like he is sitting out this Friday, but should be available for the next week, and for regular season. Not a whole lotta talk about this guy, but I personally think he is very underated, and will factor into the receiver mix. And yes JMSeaTown, T.O. is a jerk. He played like he had a “I’m only gonna play as well as I am getting paid”…Hell, even I could have caught that pass in the end zone!!

Yeah..all well..but if you want to analyse why Pete Carroll is going with Wilson, and why I believe it is now Russ’s to lose, is first and foremost touchdowns. Flynn has yet to deliver a touchdown in the many drives of preseason. Wilson has more 3rd down conversions, more touchdowns than Flynn. For a team last year that was plagued with lousy play in the red zone, Flynn appears to not have an answer. We’ll see how Russ does with the first team. But if he can score and convert 3rd downs, then it is his position to start in the first game.

Since Pete is so unpredictable, and since he “knows what we’ve got with TJack,” which includes the respect of his teammates, is it possible they are working a back door deal with another team to trade Matt Flynn, and keep Jackson as the backup? I’m just sayin….

Thanks guys, I just read the Adam Schein story from NFL.com. You can tell he’s still a doubter but at least he’ll be paying attention. That’s a step in the right direction. Most of national media is not even aware there’s a team up here in South Alaska.

Don’t forget PugetHawk, the schedule we played last year was about as easy as it’ll ever get when all things are factored in. It’s not normal to have that easy of a schedule. We could easily be much better but only improve by a game or two.

For those who are worried about Matt Flynn only leading the team to field goals in pre-season please remember that in 2 NFL starts he has thrown 9 TD passes. He is capable of scoring touchdowns. (*Past performance does not guarantee future results)

Can Wilson can be a successful pocket passer 1st with the ability to keep drives alive with his legs 2nd? Those are my favorite types of QBs. John Elway(who I despise) would be my prototype at the position.

On to our new arch-enemy, the 49ers. Their receiver core seems to have improved. Their Achilles heel IMO is Frank Gore. If he goes down (as he has in the past) the offensive makeup of that team shifts dramatically, much like when Lynch went down for us last year. Not rooting for that but we addressed our depth issue at RB. So did they but possibly not nearly as well.

I was ready to post the Adam Schein link because he never says anything good about the Seahawks and I was amazed at what I perceived as positives throughout the write up….until I got to his damn punchline…

“But I’m not quite convinced they are going to be good. They will be a wild seven- or eight-win team.
As a not-so-wise man once said, “Get your popcorn ready.”

May your popcorn have too much salt, the old maids break your teeth and I hope it has more butter than the human heart can withstand…We be going to the playoffs b!tch…

The 2nd team defenses and players Wilson has faced are noticeably inferior to the 1st team equivalents Flynn is facing. Plus, clearly the 1st team offense has a game plan to work on specific issues (like see if Terrell Owens can play or not.)

This is why Wilson is getting the 1st team turn, needless to say. To see if he can do what he’s done against better competition.

Most impressive so far – Left sided OL including: Okung, McQuistan, Unger. Strong showing in pass pro and run blocking. There is developing chemistry with McQ playing inbetween our two strongest starters he knows when to chip and when to help Okung and Unger. Wish I can say more about the right side with undeveloped Sweezy and Undisciplined Giacomini.

Least impressive – Pass rush. To me.. Irvin has been underwhelming during 1vs1 and even less during live fire team drills or games. Chris Clemons still needs to live up to the contract he signed instead of being washed out continually by albeit good LTs. This should be an upgraded unit. I’m counting on Gus Bradley to get our athletic LBs involved. If you can’t bring it, scheme it. We have the versatility around the board to cover.

Most Potential to boom – Run Game We have loads of talent in our backfield. Pro bowl runner Lynch and Pro bowl blocker Robinson at the head. Deep with Turbin, Lumpkin, and Sutton. Deeper with Vai Tua who had a very very good game as primary blocker. Excellent reads great sticks.

Most Potential to bust – Pass game. At this point we don’t even know who our main contributors will be… In fact we have NO IDEA. Our most solidified candidate in Baldwin won’t play until next week. Both of our best players at Reciever(Rice) and TE(winslow) have concerns whether or not they will even be playing come week 6.

Happily consistant – Secondary/Pass Defense – looking to pick up right where they left off our secondary is big, tough, mean and fast. Earl Thomas isn’t the only player with at least 1 year of experience this season. How crazy is that? This unit had just one single season to gel together and they already were regarded as the best. Can we talk about Sherman breaking out as the best cornerback in the league regarding coverage and press?

And Keep posting. However be aware that the more you post here the more likely you will slip up and go into emotional, irrational ( bbnates favorite Delusional), and my favorites Beerational and Beermotional opinions. Lol.

I didn’t really like Schein’s, last paragraph either, but still, it was refreshing to read something good about the Hawks, that didn’t come from The P.I. or TNT. At the very least, the 2012 Seahawks will be a team more entertaining that what we have seen since 2005. I look forward to every game, my dvr is cleared of all my wife’s shows, and ready for some football baby!

Georgia – the play when he put the lick on Manning was…….nifty. He needs to understand that he got to Manning by setting his man up, off balance, and timing his “thrust move” at the right moment to knock the tackle away. He’s not running by anyone in this league unless someone misses a block on a stunt… He needs to do what Aaron Curry never did…understand that learning the game and developing his craft is 1,000 times more important that athletic ability.

Chuck – not indecisive, just truly allowing the competition to play out. What do you say about an organization that doesn’t put the best player on the field?

There is too much credit given to Carroll for personnel decisions, and not enough to Schneider for giving Carroll the pawns to play with. We can all agree that to this point, RW has far exceeded expectations.

pabs – I guarantee that the 7 week stretch we had from weeks 11-17 were among the easiest stretches we’ve ever had (and we only finished 4-3). Minus the San Francisco game, the teams we played were deadbeats. They sucked.

Don’t you dare tell me the Bears were 8-8 so they weren’t that bad. You know darn well that they were not the same team without Cutler. They were 7-3 with Cutler and 1-5 without Cutler and that’s when we faced that Bears team.

The Eagles also were horrible when we played them (another starting QB injured). After we beat the Eagles, they were 4-8. That’s not exactly a good team. But they won some games at the end of the year to make their real record look better, even though they truly sucked with your boy, Vince Young, looking like the back-up he is.

The Redskins closed out their season by going 2-10. We played them in the middle of that and couldn’t even hold off Rex Grossman at home!

That Rams team may have beat the Saints earlier in the season, but by the time we had gotten them, they were as beat up (and bad, thanks to horrible depth) as any team I have ever seen. They finished 0-7 and that’s when we played them, twice.

We all know about the Cardinal problems at QB in week 17. And lost.

I can’t remember many 7 game stretches setting a team up for a better record and we could only muster 4-3.

The Giants (who nobody remembers went 9-7) and Ravens games earlier were darn impressive, but after that I think the schedule was as easy as it’s ever going to get (minus Pit). The weird part was beating those two great teams and losing to some losers.

So, yeah, I think we can get a lot better this year but not improve the win total, on paper, a whole heck of a lot. I think we can/will win 9-11 games, but if we only win two more than the seven we had last year, I think it’ll be because the team was a lot better (even if it didn’t appear that way on paper).

Think of what it’s like to be a Browns fan or something like that: They have to face Pitt twice, Balt twice, and an up-and-coming Cincy team. That’s 6 good teams right that within the division. We barely played that total.

Dukeshire- I agree. I think they can coexist for a year or two, however if they both are really good it will be hard to keep them both for long. Especially if the Seahawks are offered a deal they just can’t refuse.

You’re right that Pete Carroll is definitely rolling the dice. It’s like someone said, he’s walking a tight rope without a net. Maybe it’s based on hope more than reality but I believe it is all going to work out for him. I’m expecting a great season.

I wouldn’t be over conserned about the pass rush just yet. I was listening to Gus Bradley this morning on the radio and he said he has kept the defense very vanilla. Usually only using a 4 man rush and trying to disguise anything. He said Irvin is getting better and will only get better because now he is actually learning some moves. He said he was impressed with the move he used to get to manning.

So, yeah don’t sweat the defense just yet.

And trading Flynn, straight crazy talk. Some of you really make me laugh and for that I must thank you. So, Thank you, crazy people! Lol…

Thanks ChrisJ! Man I wish I could be plugged into the radio all morning. I hate missing interviews especially with the players and coaches they give so much more insight than just speculative reporting.

I’ve noticed that things have been very vanilla. However i do still take into the account that our specialized rushing ends should be winning at least a few battles here and there. I’m sure we’ll see a little more implementation of scheme with this next game…..I will be watching intently!

I heard Gus Bradley on local radio this morning being pinned down on Irvin. He was completely unphased and praised Bruce for his freakish speed. Used the vanilla, base four man front explanation, and implied Irvin would thrive with better push in the middle, aka Mr. Jones, and some heretofore unseen stunts.

Seems to me Aldon Smith made his hay for SF curling up inside quite a bit last year, so some combinations might be the ticket for him. I won’t worry about Irvin just yet. That move to get to Manning last week was pretty sick, so it’s there.

I expected so much more from Malcolm Smith up to this point. It’s frustrating to see a guy with all that speed/talent who always seems to be hurt. While he’s not a perfect LB for everyone, I really expected him to thrive at Will.

Trade Flynn? Come on! Now were entering fantasyland. I really hope that Wilson goes ballistic vs KC but he is a rookie and I don’t want my hopes to get too high just yet. I really believe Flynn will end up our starter. Don’t get me wrong I absolutely love what I’ve seen from RW and I want him to have that great game Friday and he might….but it’s really asking a lot of the kid. I do think he is our QB of the future.

I must say again for tommorow – I’ve been harping all camp long about Gregg Scruggs. Take some time to watch this guy play. The guy is animal. He’s got really quick movement and some pretty dominating power. He saw some time with ones against Denver and eventually started commanding double teams freeing up higher draft pick Jaye Howard to show off some of his ability. He does just as much work from the outside as he does from the inside. Give this guy a chance and he’s gonna be a nightmare for offensive linemen…..

Forget Sweezy…Scruggs is our best player from the 7th round hands down.

Well, when I finally got to this blog there were already 75 comments. You guys are a windy bunch and I have absolutely no idea what these previous 75 post say (yet)!

Deuce is on the bubble? Puhlease! Sweezy is getting his licks in but the Deuce is ahead of him…he’ll be part of the 53.

JJ and Sutton both had a good game last week. Keep it up guys.

Flynn is certainly NOT on the bubble either. This QB ranting and raving is getting so frickin old. I’m a Flynn guy, ok. I want to see RW start tomorrow night and kick some serious butt! I want M2 to step in for the 2nd half and kick even more butt! I’m psyched…we have awesome QBs on our team since I don’t know when.

And for my man, Deon B…I’ve been a fan since we got him and I hope that he not only makes the team but 1st string at that. I think the guy has a lot to give to our team and I’m looking forward to watching him play.

I understand that it’s vanilla. The problem is Clem and Irvin are speed rushers. There’s nothing to hide. I saw a few zone blitzes and such, to they’re not hiding everything. Yes, they’ll stunt and whatnot when the regular season comes along, but I’m concerned they aren’t beating their man in straight up vanilla blocking schemes where they’re one on one with a tackle like Dumervil did with Okung in the Denver game. Nothing fancy there, just straight up dominate your man. If you can do that, there’s no need to rely on confusing the blockers.

I agree with RD. The thing defenses are most reluctant to disguise in preseason are coverages. Blitzes and stunts may be infrequent, but that has little to do with speed rushers. Clem is feast or famine based on his quickness vs a left tackle. What we hope to see from Irvin is the development of various moves to compliment his quickness. But that will take time. Into his second year before we really see his growth, I’d guess. He’s a project, but talented enough to be patient with.

The defensive player I wish we had drafted the most from this year’s draft is Chandler Jones. I watched a couple NE games, and he looks to be the real deal. Long and rangy with relentless motor, he can play every down and be solid. He dominated one on one the times I saw him. Irvin is a different type of player, he is not an every down guy yet, but has the potential to be much more explosive in spurts on passing downs. We need to get Dwight Freeney to school him on the most devastating spin move on the planet.

Duke are telling me that the Hawk’s are going to not show teams like GB and Dallas the Blitzes they have designed for them? that’s just not fair! and I call Nenner Neener cheater!, I’m sure GB is showing every new wrinkle they have developed so that other teams can have a fair chance to defend it.

Preseason games are glorified scrimages! nothing more nothing less, every team is playing the same damn thing we all played in pee wee! nothing more nothing less!
Truth is 4th quarters are basic backyard football, go fly around youngling and give me a reason to give you a paycheck!
if you read anything into the preseason your over thinking it.

Another thought! since camp is over and the fans are barred, the media is barred and E spends his mornings washing the wife’s car( that thing better shiny my friend if you want to attend road games) what do think the team is doing now?
Here’s your sign! all the thing’s they are counting on to win games! you know the things you will not see in the last two preseason games! did you ever stop to think they have a 10 page book of routes designed for Rice and Baldwin? are they really “injured” or just playing Possum?
Preseason is all about Obfuscating your true intentions while knocking the rust off the big dummies. nothing more. nothing less.

I just finished watching the replay of the Denver game and let me just say this- ” This QB competition is bs” Flynn is getting screwed by the hawks FO, PC and Bevell. Flynn is still the best option for game 1 and all these nlogger claim RW is so great are probably the same people who football jesus (CW) should’ve been starting last year and we saw how that worked. Now I’m sure RW is good and maybe he is future of this team but you know what? This is Flynn chance to succeed and we need a coach to give MF an opportunity to be successful. Let talk about starts Flynn was almodt flawless against the titans except for a blown assignment on MF int which the rb didn’t follow through with fake handoff to pull the lb up. Against Broncos MF was given a wr who wasn’t ready to play, an OC in bevell who did give him any favors in the play calling, and player penalties thst didnt give Flynn a chance to score TD’s. So we had to kick 3 field goals and had horrific punts which should cost Winston guy his roster spot. So now RW gets to start this game PC says he wants to see RW can do which he should’ve done in Denver. Now Rice is going to start and guess what Flynn doesn’t get an opportunity to play in a game with him (maybe in preseason game 4) but does that help us to start game 1 in AZ? I’m hoping this doesn’t effect the early part of the season but PC & Bevell need to show some more faith in Flynn. Flynn is getting an unfair opportunity to win the starting job IMO

Another thing about the denver game missed bates and edwards for TD’s inte second half and lumpkin had a TD run and sutton scored on 34 yd catch and run. So how was RW so great in those 2 TD Drives. I know he completed a pass to McCoy and later Tunei then McGrath TD But none of those plays were spectacular. So I’m sure there are of hawks fans who will no foubt disagree with me so lets see how it goes on Friday

When it comes to the word obfuscate, it basically means that when a head coaches mouth is running he is flat out freaking lying! it’s what separates a good coach from a bad.
The ability to talk out your bung with complete untruths while sounding sincere.

“This is Flynn chance to succeed and we need a coach to give MF an opportunity to be successful.”

Yellaman, you are MF-in right.

Flynn gives the Seahawks their best shot at the playoffs this year. Wilson *might* be the better option long-term, but if history is any guide, he’ll be like other exciting mobile QBs — Randall Cunningham, Donovan McNabb, Mike Vick — who couldn’t win it all. I’d rather have a boring QB (Brad Johnson, Trent Dilfer, Jim McMahon, Mark Rypien) who wins a Super Bowl for the Seahawks than an exciting one who doesn’t.

I wonder who is going to play in the 4th quarter. Wouldn’t be surprised at all to see T-Jack play. Outside of baseball, I have never heard of a player being held out of practice to rest his throwing arm. There’s something fish going on there.

Canfan, with all due respect I think your logic is flawed. Those teams didn’t go to the Superbowl because the qbs were boring. They had hall of fame defenses. I don’t think anyone can say that the hawks are there yet.
Good, possibly great maybe. But not greatest of all time level D. We need more damn pass rush.
Also, Rypien was boring? He threw 28 td passes during their superbowl run and 2 in the big game, I would hardly call that boring.
I might also add that he spun one of the prettiest, most accurate deep balls in the history of the league.
I like Flynn, I think he is capable and will turn out to be a pretty good QB, game manager or not.
But the evidence suggests that RW could be special, he can make something out of nothing.
Let’s let it play out and see what happens tonight.

What Canfan is getting at is that the “scramble 1st” QBs haven’t won the big game in the modern NFL era. Manning E., Rodgers, Brees, Hamburgaler, Manning P., Brady… It’s nice to have the ability to gain 1st downs with your feet after your passing options have been exhausted.

Eric I know you’re a journalist so getting your stuff read and spread throughout other media sources is basically your job, and I respect that. However your one blurb with no observations or facts, “He still appears to be the same T.O. who complains when things are not going his way.”, is making it’s way accross other internet sites and being escalated into a “WE TOLD YOU SO!” about T.O. joining the hawks. I guess I’m just curious as to what concrete facts and observations you have that T.O. is doing any complaining? Is it simply his body language in Denver after miscommunications on routes with Matt Flynn? I saw his frustration but there was no indication fo complaining or that the frustration was on anyone but himself. Are there other instances of him “complaining” or should we just assume you seeded this specifically to get your article some national play?

Observations that we all saw during the Denver game. Terrell’s show of frustration could be construed either that he was frustrated with himself or his passer or both. Any assumption is an opinion and is equally “accurate”. What’s not an assumption is that this is a repeated behavior that we have seen from TO with every team he has played on. Eric never presented as fact that he was frustrated at his passer..just an opinion.

It makes you no different to form the opinion that TO was only frustrated with himself.

The complaining to officials during practice was another observation. The opinion is that TO complains when things don’t go his way… You will be hard pressed to find a majority that do not share the same opinion.

National media picked it up and ran with it… It’s not like Eric tweeted Skip Bayless. Eric is doing his job and reporting observations to this website for us to read…..

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